Information and image from UTS Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion

‘Real change – lasting change – isn’t measured by how loudly we speak, but by how deeply we listen, and by how much we let the words that we hear move us to action.’ – Blake Alan Cansdale

What does it take to be ready for truth – and why has truth about Australia’s colonial past been spoken for decades, yet gone largely unheard? The answer lies in truth‑listening: the active, uncomfortable and deeply relational work required before meaningful change can occur.

Truth-listening acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long spoken truth through community spaces, Royal Commissions, national movements and landmark statements – often to audiences who are unprepared to listen. This raises a critical question: how can non‑Indigenous people and institutions meaningfully embed the practice of truth‑listening before moving to action?